Apparatus for setting pins



April 195Z H. c. LUEBBERT APPARATUS FOR SETTING PINS Filed May 20, 194'? 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVEN TOR.

Hem/Ry C L 05555??- Ap 1, 1952 H. c. LUEBBERT APPARATUS FOR SETTING PINS Filed May 20, 194';

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. HENRY CI tusaazkr P 1952 H. c. LUEBBERT APPARATUS FOR SETTING PINS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 20, 1947 INVENTOR. HE/YkYCZUEBBERT BY 5% Pg April 1, 1952 H. c. LUEBBERT APPARATUS FOR SETTING PINS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 20, 1947 INVENTOR. fiavkxfiiluzaasmr Patented Apr. 1, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for setting pins in proper position on a bowling alley.

The task of setting pins in proper position on a bowling alley is tedious, difficult and time-consuming if performed manually. On commercial alleys, the time required for manual setting of pins reduces the income receivable from an alley and also is a source of dissatisfaction to bowlers using the alley. On alleys used in the home the difficulty, tedium and time involved in manual setting of the pins detract considerably from enjoyment of the game and, indeed have limited the sale and use of home bowling equipment.

Various forms of apparatus have been proposed for mechanically setting pins on alleys. Such apparatus, however, has invariably been complicated and expensive, and often has not been as eflicacious as desired. In general, because of their complicated and expensive construction, such prior forms of apparatus could not be used on home alleys which must be small and inexpensive.

It is an object of this invention to provide apparatus for setting pins in proper position on a bowling alley, which is effective and simple in operation, and which may be of simple and inexpensive construction. Because of these features, the apparatus may be employed at particular advantage on small, inexpensive home alleys, although it may be employed to advantage on regulation size commercial alleys.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such pin-setting apparatus which comprises a vertically reciprocable carriage into which, when the carriage is in its elevated position, pins may be readily manually loaded with no particular care required to place the pins in a particular position. The carriage may then be lowered to a position above the alley where it accurately sets the pins in the desired vertical positions, after which the carriage may be raised to its elevated position, leaving the pins properly set on the alley.

I It is another object of this invention to provide pin-setting apparatus in which each pin loaded in the carriage is positioned in wedging relation with respect to a slide member, which slide memher is unlocked when the carriage reaches its pin-setting position to permit each pin to wedge the slide member to releasing position, freeing the pin and thereby setting it.

The apparatus of the invention includes a vertically reciprocable carriage comprising a generally horizontally disposed guide member, which has a plurality of pin-depositing openings, and a slide member which is slidably mounted in the carriage below the guide member. The carriage is mounted over the end of thealley so that it may be raised to a pin-receiving position which leaves the space below it unobstructed for bowling purposes; when lowered to a position immediately above the alley, the carriage automatically sets the pins. This automatic action is accomplished by means of the slide member which partially obstructs the openings through the guide member when said carriage is at the upper limit of its travel and slides out of the way to leave said openings unobstructed when the carriage is at the lower limit of its travel, thereby setting the pins. The apparatus also includes means operating as the carriage moves toward its uppermost position, for sliding and locking the slide member in the upper pin-receiving position where it partially obstructs the openings in the guide member. Means are provided for automatically unlocking the slide member as it approaches its lowermost position. The relationship of the parts is such that when the carriage is in its elevated position the pins carried thereby are disposed in a wedging relation with re-- spect to the slide member; as the carriage approaches its lower pin-setting position and the slide member is unlocked, the weight of the pins wedges the slide member to pin-releasing position, leaving the pin-depositing openings in the guide member unobstructed. Only the wedging action of the pins is required to move the slide member to its pin-releasing position. Upon such movement of the slide member the pins drop to the desired position on the alley, being guided by the pin-depositing openings in the guide member.

Advantageously, the supporting means for the carriage embodies means for counterweighting the carriage to ofiset at least part of the weight of the carriage and render it more easily reciprocable.

From the foregoing general description, it should be apparent that the automatic operation of the apparatus is efiected by the weight of the pins themselves and no other force, increased or otherwise, is required. The apparatus operates quickly but smoothly and with a minimum of shock, due in part to the absence of a multi-- plicity of moving parts which, in prior art devices, had to be cocked or biased. Thus, the ap-- paratus may be of a simple and inexpensive construction requiring a minimum number of parts, none of which requires adjustment from time to time during use. Because of its simple and its bowling'alley comprising pin-setting apparatus 1 embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

'Fig. 3 is an end elevation from line 3-3 of Fig. 1. to a scale larger than that of Fig. 1, the pins and backstop being omitted from this elevation for the sake of clearness and the carriage being shown in full lines in its uppermost position and in broken lines in its lowermost position.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the pin-setting carriage when it is in its elevated position with the slide member partially obstructing the pin-depositing openings, thepins being omitted for the sake of clarity;

Fig. 5 is a corresponding plan view of the pinsetting carriage in its lowermost pin-setting position with the slide member positioned so that 'the pin-depositing openings are unobstructed for pin-setting purposes, the pins being omitted for the sake of clarity;

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation along line 66 of Fig. 4, showing the pins deposited in wedging relation in the carriage when it is in its elevated position;

Fig. 7 is a detail elevation along line l| of Fig.6 showing the latching lever for the slide member'in the position in which it locks the slide member;

Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation along line 88 of Fig. 5 showing the carriage in its lowermost position in which it sets pins on the alley; and

Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation along line 99 of Fig. 8 showing the latching lever for the slide member in unlocked position.

The bowling pin-setting apparatus disclosed pable of being moved downwardly to its lowermost position on or immediately above the end of the alley floor, as shown in broken lines in Fig. 1, in which position it sets the pins in proper position on the alley. The carriage is capable of being then moved upwardly to its elevated position.

In the illustrated embodiment, the alley member l0 comprises spaced parallel longitudinally extending side members I! and a smooth alley floor 12 extending from the ball-delivery end or front end to the pin end or rear end of the apparatus. Said floor l2 extends between, and at the pin end of said floor beyond, said side members ll.

Ball return gutters i3 are provided at the-sides of the floor l2; if desired, the floors of 'the'gutters may be inclined toward the ball-delivery end of the alley member to cause balls in the gutters to return to said end when placed in thegutters.

The vertical member 20 of the illustrated em- 4 bodiment comprises spaced vertically extending side members 2|, each of which has a vertically extending portion 22 and a lower longitudinally extending portion 23. The alley fioor It extends between the longitudinally extending portions 23, and the side members II are detachably connected thereto, as by hook means 24. The alley member It! thus may be disconnected from and removed from the vertical member 20, to save space for shipping or storage purposes. Because of the forward projection of the lower portions 23 of members 2| and the rearward projection of members 25 fixed to the rear of members 2 l, the vertical member 20 stands firmly on the floor supporting the apparatus and resists tipping, even when disconnected from alley member I0.

Eachof'members 2| has fixed to its inner surface a vertically extending beam 26. Each of said beams 26 terminates a sufficient distance above the bottom of member 2| to clear the alley member 0, and extends upwardly for a sufiicient distance to carry the means for supporting carriage 33. The lower portions of beams 26 act as guides for the vertically reciprocable carriage 30.

Upper cross member 21 and intermediate cross member 28 fixed to the vertical beams 26, and lower cross member 29 fixed to the lower rear portions of side members 2|, provide rigidity of the vertical member 20.

As' shown in'Figs. 2, 4 and 5, the illustrated carriage 3|! in plan view, is of the general configuration of a triangle of sufficient size to encompass the triangular area in which the bowling pins are to be disposed when properly positioned on the alley floor l2. It comprises a rigid frame 3| comprising vertical walls arranged in the general form of a triangle having at its rear or base portion parallel walls 32. For lightness, strength, and freedom from warping the illustrated frame 3| is built of plywood boards rigidly fastened together. The rear wall of the frame 3| is provided with laterally projecting portions 33, formed in the illustrated case by extensions of the board forming the rear Wall of the frame 3|. The rear surfaces of these projecting portions 33, and the outer surfaces of vertical members 34, fixed thereto, contact the front and inner surfaces of vertical members 26 with a loose sliding fit to guide the frame 3! vertically.

As is apparent from Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 8, the frame 3| has rigidly mounted therein a guide plate 35. Said plate has therethrough a plurality of circular openings 33 located to provide the proper relative position and spacing of the bowling pins on the alley floor l2. Each ofthese openings is slightly larger than the maximum diameter of the pins employed, being sufficiently large to permit the pins to pass smoothly therethrough, but not so large as to permit mislocation of the pins.

In the embodiment under discussion, guide plate 35 is formed of a thick piece of Wood, such as balsa wood to provide lightness, which rests upon a plurality of lugs 31 fixed to the inner sides of the frame 3|. The plate 35 may be permanently fixed in the frame 3|, or may be removably but rigidlymounted therein.

Slidably mounted in the frame 3| below the guide plate 35 is slide member 40, in the illus trated embodiment taking the form of a plywood board, of generally triangular shape having fiat parallel sides 4| near its base. The board has therethrough recesses 42 and 43, shaped and located as hereinafter described.

Said slide member 43 is freely Jslidably sup- -ency to topple.

ported on cross members 38 extending across the lower portion of frame 3| and fixed to the sides thereof. It is capable of being moved toward the front or apex and toward the rear or base of frame 3|, being guided by contact of its flat sides 4| with the parallel walls 32 of frame 3|.

The recesses 42 and 43 are so shaped and positioned that when the slide member 40 is at the rearward limit of its travel, the openings 36 of said guide plate 35 are wholly unobstructed, but when the slide member is at the forward limit of its travel, the rear. portion of each of the openings 36 is partially obstructed by an edge '44 of one ofthe recesses 42 or 43. In the illustrated embodiment, the recesses 42 take the form of rectangular openings, whereas the recess 43 at the apex of the slide member 40 take the form of an indentation. The edges 44 are shown as being straight, for simplicity in construction, but they may be of other configuration, as curved concavely.

As shown to advantage in Figs. 4 and 6, the parts are so proportioned that when the slide member 40 is in its extreme forward position and each of its edges 44 partially obstructs one of the openings 36 in guide plate 35, the distance that the central portion of the edge 44 projects beyond the rear portion of the openings 36, and the'dista-nces between the edge 44 and the front and rear upper rim portions of openswelling portion with the front wall of opening 36, the rear upper rim of said opening, and edge 44. The bowling pin is thus supported in wedgeing relation tending to force the slide member 46 rearwardly. Preferably, the parts are so proportioned that when the pin is so held its center of gravity is below the top surface of guide plate 35, and hence the pin has no tend- As is shown in Figs. 5 and 8, when the slide member 4|] is moved to its rearmost position, the openings 36 are wholly unobstructed and the pins therein can pass freely therethrough.

-Rotatably but nonslidably connected to a lug fixed to the central rear portion of slide member 40, is a double bell crank latching lever 5ll', shown to advantage in Figs. 3-9. Said lever comprises a shaft portion 5| which is rotatably but nonslidably connected to said lug 45 and extends in the direction of travel of slide member 40 through the rear wall of frame 3|. The lever 50 also includes a latching portion at right angles to shaft portion 5|, comprising a portion 52, a portion 53 substantially at right angles to both portions 5| and 52, and a terminal portion 54 substantially at right angles to portion 53 and approximately parallel to portion 52, as shown. A lock member 55, taking the form of a yoke member, is mounted on the rear wall of frame 3|. Yoke member 55 is adapted to receive in its slot the portion 52 of latching lever 50 and hold it in an approximately horizontal position. The parts are so arranged that when the portion 52 of the lever 50 is so positioned in the yoke member 55, the slide member 40 is in .itsforward position and is locked there.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the carriage 30 is suspended by three cables connected to the corners of the frame 3| and to a cable 6 I. Cable on said, cross member, over sheave 64 above one of vertical beams 26, and is connected to a counterweight 65. Sheave 62 is so located with respect to carriage 30 suspended therefrom that the carriage 30-! presses against the guide portions of vertical beams 26, whereby the carriage 30 is accurately guided in its upward and down- "weight of the empty carriage and the frictional resistance in the sheaves so that after the car.-

riage has set the pins on the alley floor, the empty carriage 30 is capable of being moved to its uppermost position by the counterweight 65.

In the embodiment under discussion, a stop member 61 is positioned on cable 6| immediately above the counterweight 65. Figs. 1 and 3 show manually operable latch member 68, adapted to engage stop member 61, mounted on the lower portion of guide members 66 in such position as to hold the counterweight 65 in its lowermost position and the carriage 30 in its uppermost position when it is loaded with pins. The illustrated latch member 68 comprises cross member 69 fixed to the guide members 66, an upwardly extending spring member Ill fixed at its lower end to cross member 69 and having a hook portion at its upper end adapted to engage stop member 61, and a handle portion ll connected to the upper portion of spring member 16 whereby the hook portion of the spring member may be manually drawn out of engagement with stop member 61 to release the cable 6|.

As shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 6, the intermediate cross member 28 of vertical member 20, which cross member is properly located for the-purpose, is provided on its inner surface with'a cam member 86. The illustrated cam member is formed of spring metal shaped and positioned to contact the lever 50 in the vicinity of the portion 5| thereof projecting from the rear 'wall position, cam member 80 and stop member 8| cooperate to move the latching lever 56 inwardly with respect to the frame 3| of carriage 36,

and to lock the latch portion 52 of crank 50 in yoke member 55, thus moving the slide member 40 to its forward position and locking it there.

The lower cross member 29 of vertical member 20 has mounted thereon a stop member 82, shown to advantage in Figs. 3, 8 and 9. Said stop member 82 is positioned so that its upper portionengages the terminal portion 54 of lever 50 and lifts the portion 52 out of yoke member 55, as the carriage 30 moves downwardly to its lowermost position, in which it rests on or is immediately I above the alley floor I2. The weight of the pins in the carriage then causes the slide member 40 to shift to its rearward position in th carriage, thus moving the lever 50 to its outward position. 11

'ness.

7 The embodiment under discussion includes also a backstop member 90 adapted to stop the bowling balls at the pin end of the alley; such backstop member is shown in Figs. 1 and 2, but is omitted from other figures for the sake of clear- The illustrated backstop member 95 comprises side members 9I connected to rearwardly projecting members 25, cross member 92 fixed to side members BI, and a stop board 93, formed of fiber board. or the like, supported by cross member'92. V

- The operation of the apparatus described above is as follows: When the apparatus is ready for bowling purposes, the pins I are standing in the proper position on the alley below the carriage 30. The carriage 30, which is empty, is in its elevated position, being held there by the weight of the counterweight 65. The latch portion 52 of latchinglever 50 is held in yoke member 55; the slide member 40 is therefore locked in its forward position and its edges 44 partially obstruct the openings 36 in guide plate 35, described above.

.After bowling, when it is desired to re-set the pins I, the pins are loaded in the carriage 36 when it is in the elevated position by being manually placed in openings 36 of the guide plate 35 of the carriage 30. It is a simple matter to place the pins in said openings, since no particular care is required. As the pins drop into the openings 36,- they orient themselves as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 6 so that each pin is tilted toward the rear of the carriage and is supported by contact of its upwardly swelling lower portion with the front wall of the opening in which the pin is disposed, the upper rear rim of said opening, and the edge 44 of slide member partially obstructing said opening and containing the pin in wedging relation.

When it is desired to lower the carriage 30 of the illustrated apparatus, the handle portion II of latch member 68 is pulled rearwardly or away from vertical member20 to disengage the hooked portion of th spring member 10 from the stop member 61 on cable BI and permit the carriage 30 loaded with pins I to be moved downwardly. As the carriage 30 approaches the floor I2 of the alley member I I], the terminal portion 54 of latching lever contacts stop member 82 on lower cross member 29, and latch portion 52 of the lever 50 is raised out of yoke member 55, thus releasing the lever 50 and unlocking slide member 40. The weight of the tilted pins I.is sufficient to, and does, move the slide member rearwardly in carriage 30, until the edges 44 of slide member 40 no longer obstruct the openings 35 in guide plate 35 of carriage 30 and the lever 50 is pushed outwardly of carriage 39. The pins I therefore drop through said openings 35, being guided thereby, until they rest vertically on the ber 28, and is moved downwardly until latch portion 52 of lever 58 is seated in the slot of yoke member 55. Such motion of lever 50, of course,

results in moving the slide member to its forward position and locking it in'such position; in this position, the edges 44 of the slide member 40 partially obstruct the openings 36 through the guide plate 35 of the carriage 30, as described above.

Meanwhile, as the counterweight 65 reaches its lowermost position, the stop member 61 on cable GI engages the hooked portion of the spring member I0 of latch member 68.

The pins I are thus set in the desired positions on the alley fioor I2, and the carriage is again ready to be loaded.

By proper proportioning of the weights of the carriage 35 and counterweight 65, and proper choice of the length of the cable 6|, the carriage 36 can be made to halt at its uppermost position solely by the contact of the lever 50 withthe cam member 80, the stop member 8|, and yoke mem-- ber 55.

The present invention thus provides apparatus for setting pins on bowling. alleys which is simple, rugged and inexpensive in construction, which may be made of readily available materials, and which does not readily get out of order. For these reasons, apparatus embodying the-invention may be employed to particular advantage on home bowling alleys.

Other embodiments of the invention than the one described above, and various modifications of the illustrated embodiment of the invention may be made without departing from the invention. The invention, therefore, is not to be limited to the embodiments disclosed, but is to be limited solely by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Pin-setting apparatus for a bowling alley comprising a vertically reciprocable carriage comprising a generally horizontally disposed guide member having a plurality of openings therethrough each-adapted to guide a bowling pin therethrough; a slide member slidably mounted below said guide member in said carriage and having pin-supporting portions, each of which, when said slide member is at one end of its travel in pin-supporting position, partially obstructs one of said guide openings and cooperates with said opening to support a bowling pin by its upwardly swelling lower slide portion in wedging relation tending to force said slide member away from its partially-obstructing, pinsupporting position, and when said slide member is at the other end of its travel in pin-releasing position, leaves said guide opening unobstructed; means for supporting said carriage so that it may be raised to an upper position where it leaves the space below it unobstructed for bowling purposes, and lowered to a lower position where it sets pins carried thereby; means for sliding said slide member to pin-supporting position and locking it in said position as said carriage moves upward toward its upper position; and means for unlocking said slide member as it approaches its lower position, whereby the wedging action of pins supported in wedging relation in said guide openings moves said slide member to pin-releasing position and permits said pins to be set in position.

2. Pin-setting apparatus for a bowling alley comprising a vertically reciprocable carriage comprising a generally horizontally disposed guide 'member having a plurality of openingstherethrough each adapted to guide a bowling pin therethrough; a slide member slidably mounted below said guide member in said car-.

riage and having pin-supporting portions, each of which, when said slide member is at one end of its travel in pin-supporting position, partially obstructs one of said guide openings and cooperates with said opening to support a bowling pin by its upwardly swelling lower side portion in wedging relation, and when said slide member is at the other end of its travel in pin-releasing position, leaves said guide opening unobstructed; means for supporting said carriage so that it may be raised to an upper position where it leaves the space below it unobstructed for bowling purposes, and lowered to a lower position where it sets pins carried thereby; means for sliding said slide member to pin-supporting position and locking it in said position as said carriage moves upward toward its upper position; means for unlocking said slide member as it approaches its lower position and permitting said slide member to be moved to its pin releasing position by the wedging action of said wedging relation after it has been unlocked, to permit pins carried by said carriage to be set in position, said unlocking means comprising a fixed stop against which said means for locking said slide member in its pin supporting position bears when said slide member approaches its lower position.

3. Pin-setting apparatus for a bowling alley comprising a stationary support; a carriage vertically reciprocable with respect to said support and comprising a generally horizontally disposed guide member having a plurality of openings therethrough each adapted to guide a bowling pin therethrough; a slide member slidably mounted below said guide member in said carriage and having pin-supporting portions, each of which, when said slide member is at one end of its travel in pin-supporting position, partially obstructs one of said guide openings and cooperates with said opening to support a bowling pin by its upwardly swelling lower side portion in wedging relation tending to force said slide member away from its partially obstructing pin-supporting position, and when said slide member is at the other end of its travel in pin-releasing position, leaves said guide opening unobstructed; means carried by said support for raising said carriage to an upper position where it leaves space below it unobstructed for bowling purposes, and for lowering said carriage to a lower position where it sets pins carried thereby, said means including a counterweight for the carriage which is heavier than the carriage free of bowling pins means for sliding said slide member to pin-supporting position and looking it in said position as said carriage moves upward toward its upper position; means for unlocking said slide member as it approaches its lower position whereby said pins carried by said carriage move said slide member to pin-releasing position after it has been unlocked to permit said pins to be set in position and said carriage, free of the weight of the pins, is capable of being returned to its upper position by said counterweight.

4. Pin-setting apparatus for a bowling alley comprising a frame having a generally vertically extending carriage-supporting portion; a pin-setting carriage mounted for vertical reciprocation on said frame portion, said carriage comprising a frame, a generally horizontally disposed guide member in said carriage frame having therethrough a plurality of circular openings each of a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the bowling pins to be set, and a slide member slidably mounted in said carriage frame below said guide member having pin-sup-. porting portions each of which, when said slide member is at one end of its travel in pin-supporting position, partially obstructs one of said guide openings and cooperates with said opening to support a bowling pin by its upwardly swelling lower portion in wedging relation, and when said slide member is at the other end of its travel in pin-releasing position leaves said guide opening unobstructed; a bell crank lever having a shaft extending in the direction of travel of said slide member and rotatably but non-slidably connected to said slide member and. having a rst arm portion, and a latching arm portion extending at right angles to said first arm portion; a lock member on said carriage frame for receiving said latching arm portion of said bell crank lever to lock said slide member in pinsupporting position; means on said apparatus frame for engaging said latching arm portion of said bell crank lever to move said slide member to pin-supporting position and said latching arm into said lock member, as said carriage moves upwardly into its upper position; means on said apparatus frame for engaging said latching arm portion of said bell crank lever and disengaging it from said lock member to release said slide member as said carriage reaches its lower position, whereby the wedging action of the pins supported in wedging relation in said slide member moves said slide member to pin-releasing position and permits the pins to be set in position.

5. Pin-setting apparatus for a bowling alley comprising a frame having a generally vertically extending carriage-supporting portion; a pinsetting carriage mounted for vertical reciprocation on said frame portion, said carriage comprising a frame, a generally horizontally disposed guide member in said carriage frame having therethrough a plurality of circular openings each of a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the bowling pins to be set, and a slide member slidably mounted in said carriage frame below said guide member having pin-supporting portions each of which, when said slide member is at one end of its travel in pin-supporting posi-'- tion, partially obstructs one of said guide openings and cooperates with said opening to sup port a bowling pin by its upwardly swelling lower portion in wedging relation, and when said slide member is at the other end of its travel in pinreleasing position leaves said guide opening unobstructed; a bell crank lever having a shaft extending in the direction of travel of said slide member and rotatably but non-slidably connected to said slide member and having a first arm portion, and a latching arm portion extending at right angles to said first arm portion; a lock member on said carriage frame for receiving said latching arm portion of said bell crank lever to lock said slide member in pin-supporting position; means on said apparatus frame for engaging said latching arm portion of said bell crank lever to move said slide member to pin-Supporting position and said latching arm into said lock member, as said carriage moves upwardly into its upper position; means on said apparatus frame for engaging said latching arm portion of said bell crank lever and disengaging it from said lock member to release said slide member as said carriage reaches its lower position, whereby the wedging action of the pins supported in wedging relation in said slide member moves said slide member to pin-releasing position and permits tion .on said frame portion, said carriage comprising aiframe, a generally horizontally disposed guide member in said carriage frame having therethrough aplurality of circular open- 7 ings each" of. a diameter slightly larger than the diameter ofthe bowling pins to be set, and a slidemember. slidably mounted in said carriage frame ,below said guide member having pin-supportingmortions each of which, when said slide member is at one end of its travel inlpin-supportingposition partially obstructs one of said guide openings and cooperates with said opening to support a bowling pinby. its upwardly swellingllolwer' portion inwedging relation, and when saidsli-de member is at the other end of its travellin-pin-releasing positionlleaveslsaid guide openingunobstructed;..a bell crank leverlhaving ahshaft extendinginthe direction of travel of said: slide member and rotatably but non-slidably connected to said slide member and having a first arm portion, and a latching arm portion extending at right angles to said first arm portion; a lock member on said carriage frame for receiving said latching arm portion of said bell cranklever to lock said slide member in pinsupporting position; means on said apparatus frame for engaging said latching arm portion of said bell crank lever to move said slide member topin-supporting position and said latching arm intosaid lock member, assaid carriage moves up- .wardly into itsupper position; means on said apparatus frame for engaging said latching arm portion. of said bell crank lever and disengaging itfromsaid lock member to release said slide member as-saidcarriage reaches its lower position and permit said slide member to move to pin-releasing position after it has beenunlocked, topermit pins 'carriedlby said carriage to be set in position.

7..Pin-setting apparatus for a bowling alley comprising.a'framehaving a generally vertically extending carriage-supporting portion; a pintion onsaid frame portion, said carriage com setting carriage mounted for vertical reciprocaprising a frame, a generally horizontally disposed guide member in said carriage'frame having therethrough a plurality of circular openings each of a diameter slightly larger'than' thediameter of'the bowling pins to-be-set and a slide member slidably mounted in said carriage'frame below saidguide member having-pin-supporting portions each of which, 'when saidslide member is at one end of its travel pin-supportirig-position, partially obstructs "one of 'said' guide openings and cooperates with saidopening to support a bowling -.pin by its upwardly swelling lower portion in 'wedging relation, and'when said slide member is at the other end of its travel in pinreleasing' position leaves said guide opening unobstructed; a bellcrank lever having a shaft extending in the direction of travelof said slide member and rotatably but non-slidably connected to;said slide member and having-a first arm portion, and a latchingarm portion-extending'at rightrangles to said :firstarm'H-portion; a lock member on said carriage frame-for receiving saidlatching-arm portion of said-bell crank-lever to lock'said slide member in pin supporting position; means onsai'd apparatus frame forengaging. said latching arm-portion of said bell crank lever-tomove said-slide member to pin-supporting position and said latching arm into said lock member, assaid carriage. moves. upwardly into its upperposition; means on said apparatus frame for. engaging said latching arm position of said bell crank lever and disengaging it-from said lockmember to release said slide member as said. carriage reaches its lower position and permit said slide member to move'to its pin-releasingtposition after it hasbeen unlocked," to permit pins carried by said carriage to be set in position, said; apparatus frame .carrying a counterweight for the carriage which is heavier than the carriage free of bowling pins, wherebywhen said carriage sets pins while'in its lower position and isfreed of'the weight of the pins, said carriageis capablesof being returned to its upperlposition by said counter- Wei h HENRY .C. LUEBBERT.

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